Take a Look at Nature's Charm & Critters on Our Small Farm - April 16, 2018

It seems like winter just does not want to release its hold on the Midwest. I don't remember a time with such high winds for so many days, which makes the temps seem lower than they are. Snow has come on several days and then melted within hours. It sure makes for some beautiful pictures. Enjoy...

Easter Egger

Red Star 

Mystic -  the feral black tortie kitty, but I can pet  her.

Sapphire Gem Chicks - New Hybrid "Created" in the Czech Republic

What do you do when it is the middle of winter, and you walk into your local farm store to see a brand new breed of chickens that will look really cool as laying hens? That's what happened on February 1, 2018, when I looked at the intriguing name of "Sapphire Gem" over a brooder full of newly arrived chicks; and then read the description from the Hoover's Hatchery catalog which stated they will have blue and lavender feathers.

I have wanted a lavender colored chicken for awhile, so when I saw these I truly wanted them. I tried three times to leave the store, but kept walking back to look at these Sapphire Gem chicks. I continued to think: It's far too early to get chicks with nearly two more months of winter. In addition, the main caretaker of the chick area didn't know if they would get anymore of the Sapphire Gems. That did it, four Sapphire Gem chicks, along with two Easter Eggers came home with me that day.

The Sapphire Gem was "created" in the Czech Republic; and now Hoover's Hatchery in Rudd, Iowa had them for sell. Since the Sapphire Gems are a new hybrid, I wanted to get more information about them and pass it on to my readers. Luke at Hoover's Hatchery was kind enough to take the time to answer multiple questions about the Sapphire Gems. The following are the questions and answers:

Since the Sapphire Gems are a hybrid, do the males chicks look different than the females? If the males chicks are a different color, what is the chick coloring? Are the adult males different in coloring?

Sapphire gems are similar to a black sex link in that the females will be solid blue/ slate colored at hatch and the males will have a white dot on the head.  As adults the females will be solid blue where the males will have some barring.

How long did it take the breeder(s) to develop the Sapphire Gems (I know this is considered generations, so how many generations)?

I am not sure how long it took them to develop these lines, but they are always constantly being selected each generation.

Was this breed developed just for the increased egg production or a combination of feather coloring and egg production?

This breed is both bred for their coloring and also for superior egg production.

The Sapphire Gem info in your catalog states they will do well in hot weather, is it because they have bigger combs? If so, will they be kind of like Rhode Island Reds, which actually do well in cold weather too, despite their comb size (which can be coated to protect them from frostbite?) Plus, the Andalusian, which is stated as part of their breeding, is considered a cold hardy bird, so I would think some of this would carry over to help the Sapphire Gems in the cold weather?

They should do well in both warm and cold climates.

I have noticed with my Sapphire Gem chicks that they are very friendly compared to any other breed I have had  since 2014? Was this part of the breed creation process, to create friendly chickens for families?

One of the traits they select for in their breeds is docility, they want a calm bird that performs well in all environments.

They say egg layers will typically drop egg production about 20 percent each year, will this be typical of this hybrid?

They will usually lay well for two years and then a yearly decrease in production of 20% after that is probably a good rule to follow.

Is there an explanation why some of the Sapphire Gem pullets are black, while others are the pretty grey color?

They are still trying to finish refining the breeding stock, so there are a couple males in the breeding flock that are blue instead of splash which causes the occasional black chick to show up.  They will still have the same temperament as the others though.

There had been a mix up at Rural King when I bought what was marked as the Sapphire Gem pullet chicks, but they fixed the problem later by giving me the Sapphire Gems I had actually paid extra for. One of the things I was told later, since I was still concerned I didn't have the correct ones because 3 of 4 of mine were so black, was to gently pull out the wing to see a white patch on the feathering. Is there an explanation for why this white patch occurs? It is something I see now without having to pull the wing out on one.

Many black chicks will have white on the ends of the wings when they hatch and before they get their adult plumage, they should grow out of the white feathers.

With the pullet chicks either being a grey or the black, will there be a difference in what they look like as hens, as in some being a darker lavender grey?

(Mine are about 8 weeks old now, so I know two of the black ones have gotten lighter, but not as much as the one grey one has been all along. One black one is still very dark.)

If they are truly black they will feather out with black feathers, but sometimes you can have a very dark gray almost black looking chick that will end up with dark slate colored feathers as adults.

How will these get along with other breeds? I have mine in with 2 Ameraucana Easter Eggers, and 3 Welsummers, and all do fine. I already know some of the pecking order. The Welsummers are at the bottom.

They should get along well with the other breeds.

How did Hoover's Hatchery find out about this new hybrid? 

We ran into the breeder at a poultry trade show.

My thanks to Luke and Hoover Hatchery for providing additional information about the Sapphire Gem hybrid hens!

To order Sapphire Gem chicks go to:
Hoover's Hatchery